Now ranked fourth on housing consultant Metrostudy’s list of top-selling master-planned communities, Bridgeland has enjoyed strong sales this year and has plans for significant development in the near future.

Bridgeland’s sales were up 67 percent in 2010 from the previous year and are continuing to climb this year, at an average rate of 8 percent.

“As we mark our fifth anniversary this fall, Bridgeland has thousands of residents, approximately 1,200 occupied homes and a list of amenities that would equal or surpass communities in their 20th year of development,” said Peter Houghton, Bridgeland’s vice president. “We have set a strong foundation for this 25-year project.”

A significant milestone in Bridgeland’s progress was the 2010 opening of Lakeland Heights, a traditional neighborhood development (TND) that blends homes, retail and amenities within a pedestrian-friendly environment. The public responded quickly to the community, which features distinctive architecture that appears to have evolved over time.

“Sales have continued steadily, with nearly 50 homes sold in the neighborhood,” Houghton said. “We recently released more homesites and builder David Weekley has opened two new model homes.”

Bridgeland also donated a homesite in Lakeland Heights this year for the Benefit Homes Project of the Greater Houston Builders Association. Through the project, homes are built with donated services and materials and then sold at full price to raise money for local charities. Construction of the Lakeland Heights Benefit Home is well underway.

Starting construction in Lakeland Village this year will be the community’s first village center, a mixed-use small “downtown” that will feature a medical office and private school in its first phase. This mixed-use concept is included in each of Bridgeland’s four planned villages. Bridgeland will also have a larger Town Center designed as an employment center and shopping, dining and entertainment hub for the community and surrounding area.

Bridgeland also is planning its next phase of development, Parkland Village, a collection of neighborhoods that will have a character and style different from the development’s current Lakeland Village.

“Our goal is that each village have its own distinctive setting and charm, enhancing Bridgeland’s product offering and amenity palette,” Houghton said.

“With its wide green spaces and large lakes, Bridgeland has one of the most spectacular drive entries of any community in Houston,” said Will Holder, president of Trendmaker. “And the distinctiveness of the community doesn’t end at the entrance. There are no large walls surrounding the community, homesites are terraced and they’ve put in many amenities early on in the project. It’s a development like none other in the marketplace.”

Bridgeland is continuing to add to its amenity list, with the second phase of the Cypress Creek Nature Trail in the planning stages. Meandering beneath a canopy of trees along the historic Cypress Creek corridor, 1.5 miles of the trail are currently open. The next stage will open another 1.5 miles of the planned 6-mile trail.

Another boon for Bridgeland is the 15.2-mile extension of the Grand Parkway from U.S. 290 to Interstate 10. The parkway, which is estimated to open in 2014, will give Bridgeland residents a 20-minute commute to several major employment centers, including the Energy Corridor.

“Plus, the state of Texas is moving rapidly toward the extension of the Grand Parkway from U.S. 290 to I-45, which would mean an easy 20-minute commute from Bridgeland to the new Exxon Mobil campus opening in 2014. This means we can refine our existing plan for the Town Center, which will be located in Bridgeland along the Grand Parkway.”

Bridgeland is a project of The Howard Hughes Corporation, which — as owner of Bridgeland and The Woodlands — is one of Houston’s largest residential developers. The firm has communities and properties in 18 states and is traded on the New York Stock Exchange as HHC.

A strong commitment to building a lifestyle community has earned Bridgeland numerous awards during its five years of development, including Community of the Year during the 2010 Silver Awards and The Nationals 2009 Gold Awards, both given by the National Association of Home Builders, and Best Planned Community in the 2009 Houston’s Best awards. Bridgeland is devoting 3,000 acres to open space and recreation and 900 acres to lakes and waterways. Parks are no more than a quarter-mile from each home and an on-site activities director plans dozens of classes and events each month for residents.